FIVE people have been arrested after climate campaigners glued themselves to the doors of a construction firm which is bidding for a contract to build a coal-fired power station.

Police were called at around 11am on Friday to BAM Nuttall's head office, at St James House in Knoll Road, where 13 people were involved in a demonstration.

The protesters said they wanted to speak to company chief executive Martin Rogers about the implications of building more coal-fired power plants.

A banner reading 'No New Coal: Build a Greener Future' was displayed, while staff and passers-by were given leaflets and information about the demonstration.

The campaigners are fighting against BAM’s bid for the contract to build a power station at Kingsnorth in Kent for the giant energy company E.ON.

It would be the first new UK coal-fired plant for 30 years, and would produce around seven million tonnes of CO2 per year.

Police helicopter

Protester Sasha Goodwin said: “Any companies thinking about getting involved in the Kingsnorth project should remember the road protests of the 1990s, which cost contractors millions of pounds and prevented many proposed road projects from going ahead.

“If we keep burning coal, then we’ll lose a lot more than just our jobs – people’s homes, health, food supply and the stability of our society are all at risk from climate change.

“Instead, we need to build a sustainable society, powered by renewable energy from the wind, sun and tides, which will lead to better ways to live and work."

A spokesman for E.ON confirmed that BAM Nuttall was one of the companies bidding to build the power station, which he added would eventually include “carbon capture and storage” technology to catch 25% of emissions and store them underground.

Surrey Police said the force helicopter was deployed to monitor the site with officers also on the ground.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass after entering the building and failing to comply with a verbal warning.

A police spokesman said on Friday afternoon: "The peaceful protesters have also left the area and the demonstration has now come to a close."